Courses 2018 Fall

Welcome!

The Academy for Lifetime Learning is an all-volunteer organization of men and women who share their interests and life experiences to provide a rich and varied menu of courses.

Sign up for membership by paying the $25 per semester enrollment fee. Members are free to choose as many courses as they like, but please read the schedule carefully as class schedules often overlap.

Register early, as classes fill up quickly. You will be notified by e-mail that you are enrolled. You can sign up for a wait list in case a member drops out, so if you find you cannot attend, please email our registrar (esvaall@gmail.com) so another member can take your place.

After Duke makes a demonstration batch, students take over and make their own batch of fudge, so there’s plenty for everyone to take home and enjoy.

Learn to make the creamiest, most tempting and delicious chocolate fudge. Duke Shannahan will take you into his own kitchen to show you the secrets and tricks of the trade to make the fudge that has become famous on the Eastern Shore and beyond. Fudge makes the best gift!

One Session: Thursday, Nov. 15—2:00-3:30 p.m.Location: Classes will meet at Duke’s home in Onancock. You will be contacted by the instructor with directions.Class limit: 6

Duke Shannahan and his sons make the best Christmas fudge and pralines on the Shore.

Learn some easy, basic, and fool-proof techniques to arrange flowers like a pro. Arranging flowers is something anyone can do given the right tools. Learn how to make something out of nothing, or use “roadsideinna” (stuff from the side of the road). Each of the five sessions will cover a different mechanic, a different arranging technique, and where to find floral resources and supplies. This will be a make-it take-it style workshop, and you will go home with your arrangement from the session. Participants will also keep supplies used during the sessions to build a flower arranging tool kit. Also, participants will be asked to bring in some supplies for a particular session. Please bring clippers if you have them. Or, if you are interested in a professional grade pair of clippers (cost is $37.50), email Cyndi by September 15 to have them for the first session.

Recommended books: (both by Judith Blacklock and available on Amazon.com) A basic level book, Flower Arranging, paperback from the Teach Yourself series; or for a more comprehensive book, hardcover, Flower Arranging, The Complete Guide for Beginners. Both will be available to review during session one of the class.

Students will go home from both of these make-it take-it style workshops with arrangements to display and enjoy in their own homes.

A.L.L.–Stars is a continuation of Flower Arranging Anyone Can Do, Part 1. Part 2 is for those participants who have taken Part 1 previously at ALL. This is a make-it take-it style workshop. The major focus will be a more advanced use of mechanics while applying the elements and principles of floral design.

Four sessions. Choose one of two time periods:

Thursdays, Oct. 11 and 18,Nov. 1 and 8—12:30-2:30 p.m.OR

Thursdays, Thursdays, Oct. 11 and 18, Nov. 1 and 8—3:00-5:00 p.m.

Location: Simply Fresh Workshop at Cyndi’s home near Oanacock. Participants will be given directions before classes begin.Materials: Bring materials from Part 1 or your own gear bag.Materials fee: $50, payable to instructor on the first day of class.Class Limit: Minimum 3, Maximum 10

Cyndi Downing retired after 30 years in education. Cyndi is a self-taught flower arranger, learning from many different professional arrangers and local experts. She now enjoys a cottage business called “Simply Fresh: Flowers for Events and Home.”

LEARN ABOUT and PLAY GOLF: 101 and 102Instructor: Alan Moore, PGA professional, amoore@pga.com

Golf is a great way to spend some time outdoors, alone or with friends. Here on the Shore the weather makes it an activity you can enjoy the majority of the year.

If you ever wanted to learn about the game of golf, here is a very affordable way to get into the game. A series of workshop/clinics, conducted at the Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club (ESYCC), will cover both classroom and on-course instruction. Golf clubs will be made available for those who do not have their own. Although the golf club recently suffered the major loss of its clubhouse, all golfing activities are available and will continue.

The course is offered in two phases, Golf 101 and Golf 102. Each comprises six sessions. One can take the two courses in succession as one follows the other. This approach permits new golfers to decide whether the game is for them before committing to more than just the six sessions of Golf 101; it also permits those who may have some golf experience to pick up the game again by joining just the Golf 102 program.

Instruction, in no particular order, will cover: objectives of the game; basic rules and etiquette; equipment; proper club grip; proper set-up over the ball; golf club swings for drives, pitches, and chips. Instruction will go back and forth among the classroom, the driving range, the putting green, and eventually the course itself, and the order of things will partly depend on weather conditions. For any play on the course, carts will be provided. While using club facilities, participants are asked to observe the same club rules as members. Instruction will be in a relaxed atmosphere, the learning experience will be fun, and hopefully weather conditions will be favorable!

Golf 101: Six sessions: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 18, 20, 25, 27, Oct. 2 and 4—10:30 a.m.-noonGolf 102: Six sessions: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 9,11,16,18, 23, and 25—10:30 a.m.-noon
If the weather is too inclement to hold a session, rain dates will be arranged with the participants. Lunch service will be available at ESYCC following each session.Location: Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club, end of Country Club Road, Melfa, VACost: $89 for Golf 101 or Golf 102, payable at the first class. This includes use of the range for the course itself. Unlimited use of range during the six-week course is only $20 more.Class size: Minimum 4, Maximum 10

Alan Moore is a certified Class A PGA instructor and will conduct the program.

Butterflies are just one of the many kinds of insects that abound in the fields and gardens surrounding Tony Picardi’s house. Using the provided field guides, students will identify the specimens they capture.

After a slide show that will help to identify some of the most common insect families, there will be instruction on capturing insects. Using the provided equipment, you will stalk the surrounding fields, wildflower meadows, and gardens to capture specimens. The insects will be brought in for identification and viewed under hand lenses (5x to 10x) and the stereoscope (20x to 100x). A variety of field guides will be provided. If there is interest, building and maintaining an insect collection will be discussed.

Tony Picardi is a Master Naturalist. For the past 12 years, he has led nature-study trips and seminars on the Eastern Shore focusing on butterflies, insects, mushrooms, native-plant gardens and meadows, environmental services, global warming, and national parks.

Paddlers of novice ability can enjoy a delightful day on the Pocomoke River north of Snow Hill, MD. Learn river paddling; planning, shuttle and transport issues; paddling techniques; safe boat handling; and nature observation in a cypress-flanked blackwater river.

We will be paddling on high tide or with the tide almost the entire way. There will be no whitewater or rapids, and half of the paddling will be done within the sheltered confines of the upper Pocomoke River. The pace will be leisurely, and we expect to be on the water for three to four hours.

A peaceful afternoon spent kayaking is one of the most pleasant ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore.

The highlight will be paddling through the scenic bald cypress-black gum swamp. The Pocomoke River from Porter’s Crossing to Snow Hill is home to an abundant array of wildlife and native plants, including many species of orchids and warblers. This tannin-stained waterway is steeped in early American history and is a most beautiful and tranquil place.

One session: Tuesday, Sept. 18—11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; rain date, Sept. 19Location: Class will meet at Byrd Park in Snow Hill (off Rt. 113) at 11:30 a.m. We will shuttle to the put-in spot at Porter’s Crossing. We’ll be on the water as close to 12:30 as possible and will paddle one way back to Byrd Park. Afterward, those who wish can gather locally for dinner and refreshments.
*Trail is 5-6 miles. Please discuss concerns with leaders in advance.
* Bring a kayak, borrow one from Ken and Sandy, or rent one in Snow Hill from Pocomoke River Canoe Company (Pocomokerivercanoe.com).
* Participants must wear a life jacket (PFD) while paddling.
* Wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footware. Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks, and water.
* If you’d like to fish while paddling, check with Ken for license and/or FIN registry details. See Maryland State Parks website (http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/pocomokeriver.aspx).Class fees: The class is free to A.L.L. students. Kayak or canoe rental is extra.Class size: Maximum 20

Ken and Sandy will coordinate meeting locations, carpooling, post-paddling activities, and paddling equipment needs, and will contact participants by email before the trip. This is their eighth A.L.L. kayaking trip. They’ve led many paddling adventures locally and in New York and Pennsylvania. Sandy is a co-creator and coordinator of The Delaware River Sojourn, an 80-100 person week-long paddling/camping journey.

NATURE BIKING on the Wildlife Loop at the Chincoteague National Wildlife RefugeFacilitator: Matt Cormons, mattcormons@gmail.com

The wildlife loop on the Chincoteague Refuge had lots of plant and animal life to observe, and biking the loop is a great way to view it.

The group will meet at the Bateman Visitor Center with bikes ready to go. Biking the loop will enable the group to take the entire 3½ mile loop and have time to stop at various sites along the way to see plants, birds, and other biota. All you need is a bike, binoculars, sunhat, water, and a snack. Cameras are optional. Matt likes to share his knowledge and hopes attendees want to learn and remember what they see, so please bring a notebook too. Mosquitoes might be present; bring repellent if you wish, but do not use it unless necessary (nature smells better). Bikes are available at rental places near the refuge where you can leave your car and ride in for free. Matt will arrange for attendees to bring their cars with bikes in tow, without having to pay an entrance fee.

One Session: Saturday, Sept. 22—10:00 a.m. to about noon (rain date Sunday, Sept. 23—10:00 a.m. to about noon) This class will be at least two hours, but longer if enough people want to see more.Location: Chincoteague Refuge Wildlife Loop (but meet at the Bateman Visitor Center)Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 10

Matt Cormons has a master’s degree in ethology (animal behavior), is a Virginia Master Naturalist, a nature photographer interested in every plant and animal he sees as he roams. He loves to share what he knows—and knows how much there is to learn.

This class will feature strategies to improve communication between you and significant others in your life. Topics will include strategies to discuss and resolve differences, ways to have a fair and producive “fight” without using “dirty fighting tactics,” and strategies that minimize escalation of conflict. There will be plenty of role playing and probably a lot of laughter. Couples may benefit from coming to the class together, but they may need to drive in separate vehicles! Students may contribute personal disclosures, but there is no requirement to do so. Students do not need to have taken the preliminary Psychobabble class from the spring of 2018.

There’s no “probably” about it; Peggy Swan’s enthusiasm always produces a lively class where students both laugh and learn.

Four sessions: Tuesdays, Sept. 18 and 25, Oct. 2 and 9—10:00 a.m.-noonLocation: Peggy’s home in Onancock. Directions will be given to participants.Class size: Minimum 8, Maximum 15

Peggy Swan is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been practicing since 1990.

This class will cover making scenery for model railroads, dioramas, or miniature realistic display units. It will cover base construction, landscaping using purchased or natural local materials, building structures (model RR sizes from N scale to G scale or Half-scale for miniaturists), and weathering these structures. The class will incorporate your design needs.

Students from a previous semester pose with their in-progress scenery module as they prepare to add some trees to the terrain.

Participants can bring their own materials. Purchasing kits will be discussed in the first class, as well as where other materials can be found. The cost depends on what participants want for their project. Some materials (paint, plaster, foam, etc.) are available at the Train Station, but there is a materials fee of $20 for non-SPOTS members.

Six sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and Nov. 7—10:00 a.m.-noon (Dates and times are flexible and can possibly be adjusted to suit your schedule.)Location: Train Station in OnleyMaterials fee: $20 for non-members of SPOTS, the volunteer organization for the Onley Train StationClass size: Minimum 2, Maximum 6

Jan Signlin has a degree in Art Education and a Master of Fine Arts degree. For many years she taught art in local high schools.

These retreats include 4 hours of instruction in yogic philosophy and practices. Each retreat is a “stand-alone,” so you may register for one or all.

Register for each session separately.

Brain Longevity and Yogic PracticesOne Session: Saturday, Oct. 20—10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Brain Longevity Therapy is a program developed by the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation. It is a 4 pillar approach to maintaining a healthy body and brain. We surely cannot reverse certain diagnoses, but there is a great deal we can do to maintain optimal brain function and prevent degenerative disease. You won’t want to miss this.

“Letting Go”One Session: Saturday, Nov. 17—10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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Too frequently someone will say, “Just let it go!” but sometimes, doesn’t it feel like “IT” has a hold on you? You can learn to let go, stop clinging, and find relief from recurring thoughts, distractions, and haunting ideas. Improve your sleep, relationships, and mental health through easy, everyday yogic practices.

A Day of Inner ReflectionOne Session: Saturday, Dec. 15—10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Explore the chakras, and observe yourself through a yogic lens. With neuroscience as a complementary partner, learn new ways to interpret physical and emotional feelings, interpersonal relationships, and spirituality.

Location: Near Belle Haven. Directions will be given to those registered before the class.What to wear and bring: Wear loose clothes and bring a new journal. Bring your lunch. Linda will provide drinks and refreshments. Handouts will be provided.Class size: Minimum 6, Maximum 12

Linda Lang designed the Smithsonian Yoga Symposia in 2014 and 2017; she is a member of the Advisory Council for the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Join in the camaraderie of a book club with manageable reading goals. Read and discuss a variety of short stories each week. This semester the book is Best American Short Stories 2018. The book can be purchased at the Book Bin at a 15% discount; however, this edition will not publish until early October. Readers can pre-order.

Best-selling, award-winning, pop culture powerhouse Roxane Gay guest edits this year’s Best American Short Stories, the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction. The collection is sure to engage class participants and lead to some lively discussion.

Civil discourse seems to be in danger of becoming a lost art. If you’d like to become better at discussing without disrespecting differing points of view, this course is meant for you.

While Americans consider the depth of our political polarization and make comparisons to the Civil War, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights movement, many are seeking solutions to bridge the divide and find common ground. In this class we’ll explore Civil Discourse and work to create a space where all feel respected, heard, and at least a little more skillful!

When thinking about Civil Discourse, we might ask ourselves:

What are its primary characteristics?

What behaviors does it exclude?

Does it look different depending on context, such as in personal relationships versus professional, in interactions with customer service representatives versus friends, or in classrooms versus other community spaces?

Karen Hatch identifies as a Healing Justice Advocate. She is a registered nurse, former youth pastor, and is a Certified Interplay Leader. She is committed to racial justice. Karen has lived on the Eastern Shore since 1997 and has worked with diverse groups of all ages to deepen relationships and build community.

Students will read poems and short plays, analyzing for content and technique. Students will compose original works. Students will critique each other’s works for content and technique. Prompts will be provided but will not be required. Students are encouraged to go on their nerve with regard to the work they will compose.

If you’ve always enjoyed writing but never taken the time to do it seriously, this is your opportunity to indulge your creative impulses and benefit from the critique of others.

Stephen Scott Whittaker is a member of National Book Critics Circle and literary review editor for The Broadkill Review. His poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in dozens of publications. His previous chapbooks include the steampunk inspired The Black Narrows, Field Recordings, and The Barleyhouse Letters. Whittaker teaches theater, literature, and psychology in rural Maryland. In 2004 he was the recipient of an NEA grant to adapt Romeo & Juliet into a rock musical. He lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with his family. He blogs on occasion at: http://fieldrecord.blogspot.com/.

Drawing is not only fun; it produces something you can take pride in and display.

This drawing class is for beginners or a refresher course for the experienced or intermediate artists. It will cover basic drawing lessons, forms and shapes, perspective, shadows and light, and composition. Eileen will set up a still life each week and then teach how to really see what you’re drawing with the use of a view finder. Everyone is welcome to have fun and lose themselves in drawing.

Eileen Weber has been painting for years and studied art with renowned Connecticut artist Frank Bruckman. Art lessons with Frank included studio painting, plein air painting, painting the masters, and visiting museums. Eileen found her way to the Shore in 2003 and has enjoyed painting the rural landscapes and deserted old homes. She is a member of the Eastern Shore Art League. Her art can be seen at The Red Queen Gallery in Onancock, the Historic Onancock School, and at the Lemon Tree Gallery in Cape Charles.

Each lecture will cover a portion of Eastern Shore history up to the 20th century. The particular focus this fall will be on the Civil War and Reconstruction on the Shore. Mr. Custis will examine the people and customs of the Shore as well as its architecture and artifacts. Students who have taken Mr. Custis’ class before may take it again, as he will present new material.

This not a course, but a roundtable discussion of some of the real and hypothetical issues that may perplex us today. Participants will be teachers as well as learners as we wade through why we think and feel the way we do about thorny ethical problems. Different views and a sense of humor are encouraged. Not for closed minds or those who already have the answers. Participants are asked, but not required, to bring at least one ethical or moral dilemma that they would like to have discussed (anonymously) during any of the four sessions.

Write and share experiences with other class members. Preserve your memories for future generations. Students will be guided through a series of topics to consider, and they will share their memoirs with the class in an informal environment.

You don’t have to show up in costume to read your memoir to the class, but some students really get into the spirit of reliving a moment from their past.

Lisa Cannon has worked as a professional writer and teacher and is a passionate lover of the art. In addition to poetry, essays, and short stories, she’s written two plays based on Eastern Shore history that were performed at the Island Theater in Chincoteague.

Students will learn how to use their cameras effectively for nature photography and how to visualize their shots before pressing the shutter to capture an image that is more than just a snapshot.

The class will focus on landscape and wildlife images in nature photography. Students will learn how to set up their cameras for nature images and learn how to look and visualize their photographs. Learning to look is the skill that transforms photography from merely capturing images to the exploration that leads to art.

Four sessions plus a field trip: Fridays, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, and 16—10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Details of the field trip, which is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Nov. 19, will be announced later.Materials: Bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera and the camera manual (if available).Class size: Maximum 8

George Budd is locally well known for presentations on bird photography; also, he sells his photographs and greeting cards. George enjoys the process of teaching photographers to see nature in a new way.

Charles Ross has been a photographer for more than 50 years. His work is exhibited in galleries on the Eastern Shore, in Newport News, in Frederick, MD, and on his web site, www.therossgallery.com. His work is also on display at the Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onley and in the Riverside Hospital in Hampton.

Using their sewing machines, students will create quilted table runners that they can take home.

In this class you will make a fall-themed table runner and learn the baics of quilting. Students will bring sewing machines, and the instructor will provide a kit of all the materials needed to complete the project.

Two sessions: Fridays, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5—2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.Materials fee: $20. Payable to instructor on the first day of class.Class size: Maximum 8

Sarah Hansel has been an enthusiastic quilter for the last 20 years. She believes quilting is an art form and values the “happy accident” as much as precision technique. Her focus is on the joy of color and texture in fabric, the process of creating, and the community of quilters.

This course provides a traditional approach to language learning, based on solid grammatical foundations, translation skills, and practical vocabulary. The material covers a variety of everyday topics in a simple, concise manner with many examples and explanations to illustrate how the language works and for students to build confidence. The textbook is Spanish Demystified by Jenny Petrow, ISBN-13: 978-1259836855. It can be ordered through the Book Bin.

Students will need to purchase a copy of Spanish Demystified by Jenny Petrow before the first class meeting.

Robert Eames served as Latin American Specialist in the U.S. Army for 22 years and then taught Spanish at Northampton High School for nearly two decades until his retirement in 2002.

UNDER THE SEA: Ecology and RelationshipsInstructor: Edward O. Murdy, eomurdy@yahoo.com

The blue crab is an integral part of the Eastern Shore’s marine ecosystem.

Study of relationships between organisms and physical-chemical-biological factors of the marine environment, from open-ocean to coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Special consideration will be given to the Chesapeake Bay region.

Learn about the marine environment and learn the types of organisms that inhabit it. Apply the principles of ecology to understand how marine organisms interact with each other and their surroundings. Learn how we use and abuse the ocean and its resources. The material in the class is different from that Ed Murdy taught in an earlier Under the Sea class.

Ed Murdy holds a B.S and M.S. in biology from ODU and a PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M. He has published four books including two on the fishes of the Chesapeake Bay. He lives in Onancock.

YOGA FOR EVERY BODY: MOVE, STRETCH, BREATHE, RELAX

Among other benefits, the asanas (Yoga postures) increase flexibility and are good for cardio and circulatory health.

If you have a body, you can do Yoga! Join us for a six-week series that will help to bring flexibility, strength, balance, and peace to body and mind. Together we will explore asanas (Yoga postures), pranayama (breath awareness), and a little Yogic philosophy with a delicious deep relaxation to top off each class. Come with an open mind; go forth with an open heart.

Toni Noreika has been a student of Yoga for 20 years. She is Yoga Alliance registered Yoga teacher, an avid gardener, wannabe farmer, and enthusiastic cook. She moved to the Shore upon retiring from the Virginia Department of Forestry.

ALL Mailing Address
P.O. Box 509Exmore, VA 23350

ESCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dean of Learning Resources, 29300 Lankford Hwy., Melfa, VA 23410; 757.789.1723.